Billionaire Russian oligarch Alisher Usmanov may have put some of his most valuable UK properties out of the law's reach before being sanctioned, Lawyer Turkey it has today been claimed.
The Russian businessman - who is believed to be worth nearly _15 billion - is thought to own at least six properties in the UK, including a stunning 19th Century north London mansion worth _48million.
The former Arsenal FC shareholder, 68, is also linked to a 16th Century Surrey estate - thought to be worth as much as _34million. 
Ministers sanctioned Mr Usmanov, a metal, Lawyer Turkey telecoms and media magnate, Lawyer Turkey earlier this month because of his 'close links to the Kremlin'.
The sanctions were designed to encourage oligarchs to put pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to end his war in Ukraine.
But today a spokesperson for the billionaire, who was until recently a key backer of Everton football club, said most of his properties in Britain had been transferred into trusts. For more info on Lawyer Turkey stop by the web-page.  
He said the property assets, as well as his yacht, had been 'transferred into irrevocable trusts' to benefit his family prior to the sanctions being imposed.
'From that point on, Mr Usmanov did not own them, nor was he able to manage them or deal with their sale, but could only use them on a rental basis, Lawyer Turkey the spokesman said.
'Mr Usmanov withdrew from the beneficiaries of the trusts, donating his beneficial rights to his family,'  he added.
The comments are likely to heap pressure on the UK Government, who proudly boasted when imposing the sanctions on Mr Usmanov that they would cut him off from 'significant UK interests including mansions worth tens of millions'.





The Russian businessman who is believed to be worth nearly _15 billion, is thought to own at least six properties in the UK, including a stunning 19th Century London mansion worth _48million (pictured: Beechwood House in Hampstead)





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The former Arsenal FC stakeholder is also linked to a 16th Century Surrey estate - Sutton Place (pictured) - thought to be worth as much as _34million